To quote a house cleaning job by text, ask five questions, work out your price from your own base rate, and send one short message with the price, what's included and the next step. That's it. The rest of this guide shows how to do each part quickly, so you're not pricing jobs at 11 pm.
Most new clients now reach you by text, Facebook message or a quick form. They want a number fast. If you reply with "it depends", they'll message the next cleaner on the list. A clear quote in the first hour wins more jobs than a perfect quote the next day.
Step 1: Ask five questions before you price
You can price most standard homes without a walk-through if you ask the right questions up front. Save this as a text shortcut on your phone:
Hi [name]! Thanks for reaching out. So I can give you an exact price, could you tell me: 1) how many bedrooms and bathrooms, 2) roughly how big the home is, 3) standard, deep or move-out clean, 4) one-time or recurring (weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly), and 5) any pets or extras like inside the oven or fridge?
Those five answers decide almost all of the price. Anything unusual (heavy buildup, clutter, post-construction dust) is a sign to ask for photos or a quick visit before you commit.
Step 2: Know your own base price
Your base price has to cover your time, your supplies, your drive and a profit. A simple way to think about it:
Price = (hours × your hourly rate) + supplies + drive cost, then add your profit margin
Published guides give a starting point, but your area and costs matter more. Jobber's cleaning pricing guide, for example, cites a national average of around $45–50 per hour (from Thumbtack) and suggests adding 30–50% for deep cleans, while Housecall Pro's house cleaning price guide says deep cleans often cost 50–100% more than a standard clean. Use those as sanity checks, not as your prices.
The easiest system for most solo cleaners is a price table by home size, set once:
| Home | Standard | Deep | Move-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed / 1 bath | your price | your price | your price |
| 2 bed / 1–2 bath | your price | your price | your price |
| 3 bed / 2 bath | your price | your price | your price |
| 4+ bed / 3+ bath | your price | your price | your price |
Then add fixed prices for extras (inside oven, inside fridge, interior windows) and a small discount for recurring clients, since a home cleaned every two weeks takes less time each visit.
Step 3: Do the math once, not every time
If you price every job from scratch, you'll be inconsistent, and clients notice. Put the table in a spreadsheet so the price comes from the same rules every time. Even a basic sheet works: one row per home size, one column per type of clean, and a cell that adds the extras.
Here's a worked example with made-up prices. A 3-bed, 2-bath home asks for a deep clean, then every two weeks, with inside the fridge. If your table says $260 for the deep clean, $140 for recurring visits, and $30 for the fridge, the first visit is $290 and each visit after is $140.
Step 4: Send a quote people can read on a phone
Keep the quote to four parts: the price, what's included, when you can come, and one clear question.
For a one-time clean:
Thanks, [name]! For a standard clean of your 2-bed, 1-bath home, the price is $[price]. That covers kitchen, bathroom, dusting, floors and all living areas. I have openings on [day] or [day]. Which works better?
For a deep clean that turns into recurring service:
Hi [name]! For your 3-bed, 2-bath home, the first deep clean is $[price], then every other week is $[price] per visit. Inside the fridge adds $[price]. I can start [day] morning. Want me to save that spot for you?
For a move-out clean:
Hi [name]! A move-out clean for your [size] home is $[price]. It includes inside cabinets, appliances and baseboards so it's ready for the walk-through. What day do you get the keys back?
Notice what's missing: long lists of tasks, discounts nobody asked for, and "let me know if you have questions." Ending with a question gets a reply.
Step 5: Follow up once
If there's no answer in 24 hours, send one short follow-up:
Hi [name], just checking you saw my quote. I still have [day] open if you'd like it.
One follow-up is helpful. Three is pressure. Log the inquiry so you can see later which quotes turned into clients and which channel they came from.
Common quoting mistakes
- Quoting before you know the size. Ask first; a wrong guess either loses money or loses the client.
- Forgetting drive time. A job 40 minutes away costs you more than one around the corner.
- Different prices for the same job. Clients compare notes. Use one table.
- Discounting the first clean. The first clean is usually the longest. Discount recurring visits instead.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge by the hour or a flat rate?
Most residential clients prefer a flat price they can say yes to. Use your hourly rate behind the scenes to build the flat price.
Do I need to see the house before quoting?
Not for most standard homes if you ask the five questions. Ask for photos or a visit for deep cleans in poor condition, move-outs in large homes, or post-construction work.
How fast should I reply?
As fast as you reasonably can. A quick, clear quote is one of the simplest advantages a small cleaning business has.
Price your next job in ten seconds
Build your price table tonight and save the three quote texts as shortcuts. If you'd rather have it ready-made, the Quote Calculator in The AI Office Manager asks six questions, uses your prices, and writes the quote text for you. You can try the preview on the page. To keep track of each client once they say yes, see how to keep track of cleaning clients.